Somali cats 

Somali cats were developed by breeders in UK & USA in the 1950's. The breeding stock was descendents of the Abyssinian cats of Africa. Somalia is the most easterly country in Africa, bordering Abyssinia (now called Ethiopia). The Somali peninsula juts into the Indian Ocean, where it meets the Gulf of Aden & Red Sea.

Abyssinians have short hair, but when some long-haired kittens were noticed in the litters, breeders began experimenting. They produced a long haired cat with large, tufted ears like a lynx. It is a medium sized, muscular cat, with long legs.  It has a strong, well-rounded head and fairly short face.  Their eyes are large and almond shaped.

Its coat is this creature’s crowning glory.  Although dense it is both fine and silky.   Depending on the colour of the outer coat, the undercoat is a soft oatmeal or apricot colour.   The outer coat has at least three bands of colour on each hair, ticked.  In Ruddy Somalis, these bands are black.  In the Sorrel, the bands are a light chocolate colour.  In the Blue Somali, the ticking is blue and in the Fawn, it is fawn. 

The Silver Somali is also very popular with an almost white undercoat with black ticking, giving it a silvery, shimmering look.  Somalis also come in chocolate and lilac but these are rare.

The cats have `thumbprints’ on the ear tips and a fluffy tail.

Somalis require regular brushing to remove dead or tangled hair because of the special texture.

In the 1970s, the breed achieved championship status in the USA. 

Somalis are some of the most companionable cats in all the cat breeds.  They are cheerful, playful, loving and demonstrative in their affection.

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